On the South east wall of the Halemaumau Crater, a cloud of ashes, and small quantities of Lava has been erupting for the first time in quite a while. Although Kilauea is the most active Volcano in the world, the Halemaumau Crater has been inactive for the last thirty five years.
Reminiscent of a moon crater, because of its perfectly round features, the crater is a massive half mile round. From 1832 to 1924 the crater was home to a lava lake. Almost constantly in motion, the lava lake was a spectacle to behold.
The climax of it all was the 1924 eruption that seemed to quiet the crater down. Visitors flocked to the Volcano to witness its fascinating features.
Mark Twain, who had a special place in his heart for the Big Island was one of those people. " It was like gazing at the sun at noonday, except that the glare was not quite so white. At unequal distances all around the shores of the lake were nearly white-hot chimneys or hollow drums of lava, four or five feet high, and up through them were bursting gorgeous sprays of lava gouts and gem spangles, some white, some red, and some golden - a ceaseless bombardment, and one that fascinated the eye with its unapproachable splendor" Mark Twain 1866.
Today, over Nine Thousand people a day visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and it is easy to see why.
But the awakening of Halemaumau has not been all fun and games for Big Island Residents. Although no property damage has been sustained, there has been other effects from the new eruption.
Sulfur Dioxide emissions have been up to 10 times greater then pre-eruption emissions. This deadly gas has led to forced evacuations, and has damaged numerous crops. Health risks are present, and it is hard to say what the effects to residents have been.
All this has led to the Federal Government to declare the Big Island as a national disaster site.
At this time only the farmers will benefit from this, with loans and grants being opened to eligible land owners.
For more information on the Vog, or volcanic smog that Halemaumau has been making go to our Vog Blog where you will the most current information on the Big Island of Hawaii, and all kinds of useful links.
Aloha David
http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/
http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/the-big-island-vog-index-blog.html
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